Coffin



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM HAMILTON, or ALLEGHENY CITY, PENNSYLVANIA.

COFFIN.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 364,645, dated June 14, 1887. 4

Application filed April 22, 1887.

To all whom it may concern:

Y Be it known that I, WILLIAM HAMILTON, of Allegheny City, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Fastenings for, Burial-Gases, and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description thereof.

My invention relates to an improved fastening device, which is designed, primarily, to be used in fastening the lid to the body of a metallic lining for coffins or caskets, but which may be applied to the lids or covers of the ordinary wooden cases, caskets, or coffins, if desired. I shall include all these articles by the generic words burial-cases, though I show the fastening in the drawings applied only to the metallic lining.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein- Figure lis a plan view of a metallic casketlining, showing my improved fastening device applied to the lid. Fig. 2 is a vertical crosssection through the lid and body of a wooden coflin and an interposed metallic lining, showing the fastening device applied to the latter. Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional View of a part of the lid and body of the metallic lining. Figs. 4 and '5 are plan viewsof two forms of that part of the fastening device which is applied to the lid. Figs. 6 and 7 are plan views of two forms of the complete fastening. Fig. 8 is a side view of Fig. 6, and Fig. 9 is a side view of Fig. 7.

Like symbols of reference indicate like parts in each. I I

In the drawings'A represents the interior metal casket or-lining, whichis placed inside the outer wooden coffin or casket, B, and O is the lid of the lining. It is desirable that the lid'should be set and fastened on the metal casket as tightly as possible, for the object of the use of the inner casket is to exclude the air'and thus to retard decomposition. This is the object of my improved fastening. At the top of the metal casket is an outwardly projecting horizontal flange, D, extending around the. rim of the casket and faced on its upper side with a strip, E, of rubber. At the edge of the metal caskets lid is an outwardlyprojecting flange, G, which extends around the lid. At intervals around the edge of the metal casket are vertical screws H, whose Serial No. 235,730. (No model.)

shanks work in threaded sockets in the part D, and which have enlarged heads h. are holes M made in theflange G of the lid, to register in position with the screw-heads h, and around the shanks of the screws H are annular washers I. On the flange G of the lid,

near to the holes, are movable catches J, having slots j, which are adapted to inclose the shanks of the screws. I show two forms of such catch in the drawings, that shown in Figs. 4,6,- and 8 being pivoted at points K, and that shown in Figs. 5, 7, and 9 beingmovable longitudinally, and for this purpose pro vided with a slot, L, which fits around a pin, L.

In order to fasten the lid on the casket, it is placed thereon so that the heads of the screws H shall project through the holes M, and that the washers I shall lie within these holes. The catches J are then moved, either pivotally or longitudinally, according to the form of catch There g employed, so that their slots j shall inclose the shanks of the screws. The latter are then screwed down so as to force the screw-heads h firmly on the catches J. This presses the casket lid down on the rubber strip E, and when all the fastenings are thus secured the casket is very tightly sealed. In order to remove the lid from the casket, the screws H are loosened a little, the catches J are drawn back from the screws, and the lid is then free to be raised up. In raising the lid the washers I are of service in guiding it and preventing the sides of the holes M from catching on the heads of the screws, as without these washers they would be apt to do.

I claim- 1. The combination, with a burial-case and its-lid, of holes M in the lid, screws on the burial-case, and catches J on the lid, movable over said holes and under the screw-heads, substantially as and for the purposes described.

2. The combination, with a burial-case and its lid, of holes M in the lid, screws on the burial-case, washers I surrounding the screws, and catches J on the lid, movable over said holes and under the screw-heads, substantially as and for the purposes described.

' In testimony whereof I- have hereunto set my hand this-12th (lay of April, A. D. 18.87.

WILLIAM HAMILTON. Witnesses:

W. B. OoRwIN, THOMAS W. B KEWELL. 

